From The Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY —A Tuscaloosa man was sentenced on Tuesday for trafficking methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
United States District Court Judge Annemarie Carney Axon sentenced Darius Deshaun Rozzell, 27, to 180 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and a concurrent 120 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rozzell pleaded guilty to the charges in August.
According to the plea agreement, on October 16, 2019, the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Rozzell’s residence. Investigators seized a set of digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 74 grams of methamphetamine. While searching Rozzell’s roommate’s bedroom, agents located a rifle. Rozzell later admitted having access to the rifle and shooting it in the weeks prior to the search.
“Methamphetamine continues to plague our communities,” Escalona said. “Removing highly addictive drugs from our communities helps reduce the violence and serious public health consequences associated with these deadly substances. I appreciate the work of my office and our law enforcement partners in bringing this defendant to justice.”
The ATF investigated the case along with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. The West Alabama Narcotics Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Tuscaloosa Police Department, the University of Alabama Police Department, and the Northport Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
